![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens1.jpg)
On Friday the 13th I figured there was no better time to go to Howl-O-Scream, so I headed north toward Williamsburg.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens4.jpg)
I took the ferry across the James River on the way up.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens6.jpg)
Good luck getting out of your car during the trip with the sea gulls waiting to bomb you.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens9.jpg)
Busch Gardens is one of my favorite parks, and for the last three years I have lived just three hours away. Despite that, this was my first time to the park since 2000. I was a bit surprised to find the parking lot entrance moved over to near Apollo's Chariot.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens11.jpg)
This is a beautiful sight.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens15.jpg)
With Gryphon coming next year and my severe lack of visits to the park over the last few years, I decided to go ahead and get a 2007 season pass.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens19.jpg)
It was way too cold to ride Escape from Pompeii today.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens20.jpg)
I made a beeline for one of my favorite steel coasters, Apollo's Chariot.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens22.jpg)
The ride was basically walk-on, so I got a few rides in then moved on.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens28.jpg)
Apollo's Chariot is probably my second favorite of the B&M hypers, as I prefer it just slightly over Nitro, and of course Goliath is my favorite.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens35.jpg)
Next up was Big Bad Wolf, which I still really like. I definitely cannot fit into those cars very comfortably anymore, though.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens44.jpg)
I stopped by Das Festhaus just to look around.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens46.jpg)
Curse of DarKastle was one of two rides (Corkscrew Hill the other) put in since I was last at the park.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens48.jpg)
I haven't been on Spiderman at IOA, and from what I hear it blows DarKastle away, but I liked DarKastle a lot. The second time I rode it the guy beside me fell for the effects everytime, grabbing his lapbar in terror at the scene where the sleigh seems to fall over the castle wall.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens49.jpg)
Alpengeist was the first really large coaster I ever rode, back when it opened in 97, but I have never really had a great ride on it. I've always thought it is a beautiful ride, but it's always been one of my least favorite inverteds.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens54.jpg)
That changed today.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens55.jpg)
The trim on the first drop was not turned on, so the first half of the ride was very fast and intense.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens72.jpg)
I gained a new appreciation for this ride, and would now consider it among my favorite inverteds.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens75.jpg)
What could be back there?
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens79.jpg)
Here's another new attraction since I last visited. More on this later.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens86.jpg)
Here's me with a parrot, looking like I'm drunk just like most pictures of me.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens89.jpg)
Busch Gardens has lots of animals. Like wolves...
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens91.jpg)
And bald eagles.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens95.jpg)
Here's something else that is different from when I was last here. Hastings is no more, and Ireland has arrived. I definitely approve of the change.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens96.jpg)
Corkscrew Hill was a huge surprise. Unlike pretty much every other simulator ride I have ever been on with a horrible script that tries to be clever and ends up horribly cheesy, Corkscrew Hill was actually very funny and creatively immersed you in the story.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens99.jpg)
The dalmations did not seem to like being in their pen.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens101.jpg)
The clydesdale says hello.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens104.jpg)
Loch Ness Monster time.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens107.jpg)
Here's my crappy Gryphon construction photo. The turn out of the station was complete when I was there.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens113.jpg)
Loch Ness Monster is still fun, although a bit rough. The station was nearly completely empty for it.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens118.jpg)
I'm pretty sure this is a required shot if you have a camera with you.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens119.jpg)
whootah Alpengeist.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens122.jpg)
Obligatory duck picture.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens123.jpg)
Such a photogenic park.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens125.jpg)
Such a photogenic park.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens130.jpg)
The train was turned into a Halloween ride as part of Howl-O-Scream, and I was actually a bit let down. Unfortunately, it was still not fully dark when I did it, but it still was not nearly what I was expecting after hearing so many great things about it.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens133.jpg)
Poor Drachen Fire had its station converted into a haunted house for Howl-O-Scream.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens135.jpg)
The Lorikeet Aviary is the best part of the entire park.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens136.jpg)
This bird attached itself to this guy and would not stop biting his hair and ears.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens137.jpg)
Very true.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens140.jpg)
Hi there.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens141.jpg)
Yeah hey we're trying to sleep up here thanks.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens142.jpg)
The sampler plate at Trapper's Smokehouse had brisket, bbq chicken, a spare rib, and a baby back rib. Highly recommended.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens144.jpg)
I love the way Big Bad Wolf winds through the fake village.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens147.jpg)
Ireland in Halloween mode.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens151.jpg)
This was a maze in the England area near the front of the park. All of the haunted attractions were good, but none of them were great, and I really didn't find them to be all that different from what you would find at say Scarowinds.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens153.jpg)
The Escape from Pompeii maze was the coolest, simply because the maze was actually inside the Pompeii building on the first floor.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens155.jpg)
What really excited me was Apollo's Chariot night rides. It did not disappoint.
![Image](http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/albums/buschgardens2006/normal_buschgardens156.jpg)
After doing all of the Halloween mazes and getting my Apollo's Chariot night ride, I headed back for Raleigh. Busch Gardens is a fantastic park, and I can't wait to get back next spring to ride Gryphon.